lightly tapped Chase on the knee. “You would be amazed at what she can do, Charles. Millie is quite the expert in defense. She has taken on and defeated every stable lad we have ever had. She is so good they run and hide anytime she comes near.”
Chase sat back and contemplated the delicate-looking woman who had just been declared quite dangerous. “Is that so?”
Millie dropped the brocade, sat back, and quietly stared at him. Chase knew Aimee spoke truthfully. And he knew why.
As an adult, Millie was considered petite, but that was only after she had had two summers of highly welcomed growth spurts. Before those blessed years, she had been constantly teased and harassed by bigger and older children. That was, until Charlie came along one day and witnessed such an occasion. Outraged, he secretly worked with her one summer, teaching her ways to protect herself that did not require girth, but speed and accuracy. No longer believing herself helpless and vulnerable due to her small size, Millie had begun to seek adventures wherever she could find them.
The carriage rolled to a stop, and the footman hopped down to open the door. Chase and Millie were the last two to emerge. Before she could join the others, Chase reached out for Millie’s gloved hand. Her pulse was beating at an accelerated pace, and his lower body tightened in response. “So you continued practicing?” he whispered for her ears alone.
She looked directly at him with gentle eyes full of gratitude. “That summer you gave me the greatest gift anyone has ever given me. You gave me the ability to be me.” Millie held his gaze for several more seconds before turning to follow her friends inside.
Chase watched her disappear, still mesmerized from their silent exchange. Millie was evoking feelings he had never expected to experience upon his return to London. He had come back for one purpose. To complete his father’s mission.
Eischel had either failed to receive word he had arrived or was unable to meet. Neither boded well. Chase had only one other option: to continue with his original plans. But one misstep and the traitor would end Chase’s life. The possibility of becoming sidetracked was unacceptable.
It was also unavoidable. How could it not be, when the one woman who had reawakened his sexual desires slept just down the hall?
“Millie, would you care to concentrate? If not, I am going to find a whist partner who can exhibit more intelligence than that of a pea.”
Jennelle was beyond a little frustrated. The last few card parties had offered only inane games based solely on chance. She hated faro and believed only the most mentally challenged could enjoy betting on what card would next appear from the bottom of a deck. Tonight was the first party featuring her favorite game of strategy. And Millie was ruining it.
“What was the leading suit?” Millie asked. Hearing several people grumble “hearts,” she laid down a trumping card. It was the first trick she had won in the last quarter of an hour.
Normally, Millie enjoyed playing whist, especially with a ruthless partner. Jennelle, an outwardly passive person who typically liked to watch and examine others, transformed into an aggressive opponent during a competitive card game. Both she and Millie were usually a formidable duo, able to gather an alarming number of tricks. But tonight, Millie had not been able to concentrate and lost more than one hand she should have won.
As usual, Chase had escorted them to the evening’s event and disappeared shortly after. Millie wondered if anyone else suspected he was using his chaperoning duties as a mask for a hidden agenda. She considered broaching the idea with Aimee and Jennelle, but knew their response would be one of skepticism. Especially after tonight.
Once again, Selena Hall had seen her prey and pounced accordingly. And again, Chase seemed to welcome her company. Neither of them chose to play cards; instead they walked about,
Chase sat back and contemplated the delicate-looking woman who had just been declared quite dangerous. “Is that so?”
Millie dropped the brocade, sat back, and quietly stared at him. Chase knew Aimee spoke truthfully. And he knew why.
As an adult, Millie was considered petite, but that was only after she had had two summers of highly welcomed growth spurts. Before those blessed years, she had been constantly teased and harassed by bigger and older children. That was, until Charlie came along one day and witnessed such an occasion. Outraged, he secretly worked with her one summer, teaching her ways to protect herself that did not require girth, but speed and accuracy. No longer believing herself helpless and vulnerable due to her small size, Millie had begun to seek adventures wherever she could find them.
The carriage rolled to a stop, and the footman hopped down to open the door. Chase and Millie were the last two to emerge. Before she could join the others, Chase reached out for Millie’s gloved hand. Her pulse was beating at an accelerated pace, and his lower body tightened in response. “So you continued practicing?” he whispered for her ears alone.
She looked directly at him with gentle eyes full of gratitude. “That summer you gave me the greatest gift anyone has ever given me. You gave me the ability to be me.” Millie held his gaze for several more seconds before turning to follow her friends inside.
Chase watched her disappear, still mesmerized from their silent exchange. Millie was evoking feelings he had never expected to experience upon his return to London. He had come back for one purpose. To complete his father’s mission.
Eischel had either failed to receive word he had arrived or was unable to meet. Neither boded well. Chase had only one other option: to continue with his original plans. But one misstep and the traitor would end Chase’s life. The possibility of becoming sidetracked was unacceptable.
It was also unavoidable. How could it not be, when the one woman who had reawakened his sexual desires slept just down the hall?
“Millie, would you care to concentrate? If not, I am going to find a whist partner who can exhibit more intelligence than that of a pea.”
Jennelle was beyond a little frustrated. The last few card parties had offered only inane games based solely on chance. She hated faro and believed only the most mentally challenged could enjoy betting on what card would next appear from the bottom of a deck. Tonight was the first party featuring her favorite game of strategy. And Millie was ruining it.
“What was the leading suit?” Millie asked. Hearing several people grumble “hearts,” she laid down a trumping card. It was the first trick she had won in the last quarter of an hour.
Normally, Millie enjoyed playing whist, especially with a ruthless partner. Jennelle, an outwardly passive person who typically liked to watch and examine others, transformed into an aggressive opponent during a competitive card game. Both she and Millie were usually a formidable duo, able to gather an alarming number of tricks. But tonight, Millie had not been able to concentrate and lost more than one hand she should have won.
As usual, Chase had escorted them to the evening’s event and disappeared shortly after. Millie wondered if anyone else suspected he was using his chaperoning duties as a mask for a hidden agenda. She considered broaching the idea with Aimee and Jennelle, but knew their response would be one of skepticism. Especially after tonight.
Once again, Selena Hall had seen her prey and pounced accordingly. And again, Chase seemed to welcome her company. Neither of them chose to play cards; instead they walked about,
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